Deafblind people are today caught in the middle of a row between a national charity and two Teesside councils.

Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils have stopped funding a communicator-guide service run by the Sense charity.

Eight deaf and blind Teesside pensioners used the service, where trained helpers visited them three hours a week.

They helped the pensioners - most aged 90 or over - with things like reading mail, shopping and hospital visits.

Sense says the service was a "vital lifeline" for those who used it and has criticised the councils for pulling out. The £31,000 contract officially ends tomorrow.

But the councils say it has not been renewed because they were not fully satisfied with the service offered, and they will now reassess how best to meet the pensioners' needs.

Bill Lumsden, 89, of Saltburn, who lives in his own home uses the service.

His daughter, Carol Cook, said: "He says he doesn't want anyone else to provide the service and surely that's the bottom line. He's very happy with what Sense provide.

"He gets so much from the weekly visit - it's precious quality time to him when he has the chance to talk to someone outside the immediate family and the specialist support he's given enables him to maintain his independence."

Sense employed two part-time staff on the scheme, supervised by an experienced professional.

Sense's director of community support and information, Malcolm Matthews, said "at no time" had they been told the quality of their service was providing cause for concern.

A Redcar and Cleveland Council spokesman said: "The joint scheme with Middlesbrough Council was evaluated by both boroughs and we concluded there were concerns about the qualification of staff, the support services provided and the scheme's usage."

He admitted it had been "remiss" of them not to ensure Sense knew about the reason for non-renewal.